Apparatus for atomizing fuel oils, etc.



Aug., AIi@ BQZ,

O. C. SCHROEDER APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING FUEL oILs, ETC

Filed Dec. 23. l92l B'Shsw-Sheet l o. c. SCHROEDEF:

APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING FUEL OILS, ETC

Filed Dec. 23 1921 2 Sneeuw-Smm 2 [Ni/EN TOR.

.Patented Aug. I9, 1924..

` OSCAR C. SCHROEDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APIARATUS FOR AATOMIZING FUEL OILS, ETC.

' f Application led December 23, 1921. Serial No. 524,558.

Toall 'whom 'it 'may` com/cern.' Be it known that vIOsoAR C. SCHROEDER,a

l citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in thecountyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new'anduseful Improvements in `Apparatus' for Atom'izing Fuel Oils, Etc., ofwhich the following is a specification. Y

My invention is concerned with a novel apparatus designedv primarily foratomizing fuel oils, but which may be used for atomizing other liquids,and is designedto produce a centrifugal deviceof the class describedthat sha-ll be extremely sim e yand compact, and which will operate wita very high degree of efficiency. y

To this end it consists of an electric motor yieldingly supported sothat its armature shaft, which constitutes its/vertical axis,- is freeto shift so it can find its true axis yof rotation, andcarrying acentrifugal sprayer on the upper end of its hollow armature shaft, thelower end of which dips into a` supply of oil carriedup through theshaft by its rotation so asv to be delivered to the sprayer.

Another feature of my invention resides `in the use f a' centrifugalsprayer-cup mounted on the top of the armature'shaft,

and provided with a coverrotating there?` l with and having internalvanes which act to create a draft through the cup'to mix air with theoil as it is atomized.

- `Another feature of my-invention resides' sin' the employment withsucha centrifugal sprayer. of an annular member disposed in the 'path of themain How vof the airl ,to

support the combustion so-as to direct the air to the flame vin a mannerwhich will cause `the most elicient combustion of the fuel.

Another feature of my invention resides in the novelapp'aratus which Iemplol'for keeping the supply ofL-oil for the atomizer at the requiredlevel. i

To illustrate my invention, I attach hereto two sheets of drawings, vinwhich the same reference characters designate identical parts in'all thefigures, of which,-

' Fig. 1 is a `view, partly diagrammatical, showinggthe apparatusinstalled and provided with means for supplying it with oil; Fig. 2 is atop plan' view in section on the line2-2 of Fig.V 1;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section, on-an enlarged scale, showing theatomizer;

Fig; et is -a plan view in section on the lined- 4 of Fig. 3;,and

Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, but ona largerscale.

carrying out my invention, I have ,shown it as applied to a furnace l0of\ an desired construction, and with the lcentri ugal sprayer-cup 11projecting up. through a suitable aperture in the floor of the furnace,which will be covered with fire brick or other similar material iny yacustomary man# ner. rIhe cup 11 is preferably furnished with a hollowstem l3`shown as pinned onto `the inverted cup-shaped lower portion 12of the sleeve 14 that lextends up through the stem .13 to the top of thecup 11. This i' 'l sleeve is threaded at its lower end onto the reducedupp'er end of the armature shaft 15 of the motor, the casing 16 of whichis preferably composed of the cylindrical lower portion having thebottom 17 thereof pro' vided with the apertures 18 and having the top 19thereof secured thereto by screws 2O passed through said top, andthreaded into the bottom of the casing. The ball bearings 21 and 22 ofthe armature shaft are of vany desired type, the bearings 21 beinginter,

posed between the, armature shaft and the annular flange 23 projectingup from the top 19 of the casing, and the bearings 22 are l interposedbetween the adjacent portion .of

'any desired consruction, and which I have' shown as conve ientlyprovided -with the plurality of legs 27A adjustably secured 1n the pipes28, which will be supported from the floor of the room in which theburner 1s \1o'cJated, so that the cup llcanfbe adjusted at any desiredheight relative to the floor of the' fire-pot.

In order that the amature' shaft of the` motor may be free tov find itstrue axis of rotation, I mount the casing 16 yieldingly upon the top ofthe oil holder 26, and for this purpose I prefer to employ the'threecup-shaped lugs 29 on the to 'of the holder with the opposed cup-shapelugs 30 projecting outwardly and downwardly from the -bottom ofthe sideof the motor casing which is provided with a reduced portion,

adapted to be surrounded by the spring 31 so that the plug 32 issupported by the spring yieldingly against the bottom of the Y -lug 30.'I have found that this flexible bearing gives the desired possiblemovement ofthe motor casing relative to the oil holder so that thearmature shaftl of the motor can'rotate lfreely and find its true axisof rotation, thus resulting in its runningsmoothly and noiselessl`y\with a minimum expenditure of'power. The hollow armature-shaft has itsbottom closed except for a small aperture 33 in the plug ,Securedtherein, and when the holder 26 is filled lwith oiland the motor isrotated by current applied thereto, the oil is carried up by thecentrifugal force through the .extension 25, the hollow armature-shaft15 and the sleeve 14, to the apertures 34 formed in the sleeve 14, fromwhich point it iies outward to the inner wall of the cup 17, and isycarried up on said inner wall-until it reaches the top a`nd overflows,as it were, the edge, from which it is thrown out tangentially in ainely divided condition.

It will be noted that the area of the apertures 34 greatly exceeds thearea of the aperture 33 in Ithe plug, and this is essential in securingthe automatic` rise of the oil through the hollow-shaft.l lIt willfurther'be noted that'` the aperture 33 is in the bottom ofthe shaft andconcentric therewith, as it is impossible to draw oil into the shaftthrough radially extending apertures, as the centrifugal actionA of therotating shaft prevents it, but facilitates its rising 'through thesmall a erture in the center of the bottom of the s a`ft. s.

It will be understood that the current is carried to the field coils 35of the motor, and to the commutator 36 of the armature '37', by suitableconnections,` which need not The upper portion'of the casing 16 isprovided with the apertures 38, so that air can pass up through theapertures 18, past the armature and'out through the apertures 38, tokeep the motor cool. The bottom of the cup 12 .is provided with aplurality of apertures 39 arranged in a circle and 1 is provided with aplurality ,of radiallyinside of the annular flange 40 projecting up fromthe bottom of the cup. The cup 1s preferably provided with a disk-shapedcover 4 1, which has thesplit stem 42 by which 1t is held yieldingly inthe top of the sleeve 14. The under side of this cover In these opposedcups I place the extending Vanes 43, seen in section in Fig.

2, which vanes operatev to create a draft of air up through theapertures 39 and out for purposes of comvbustion aboveJ the oil.`

The flange 40 serves tQprevent such re-` siduum of the oil as does notleave the cup from running down through the apertures 39.v l

They bottom of the lire-pot 11 is preferably provided with av truncated,conicalshaped vopening 40, yintowhich fits the hollow casting 41 of thesame shape as the opening, and which is provided with the trough-shapedlower rim 42, which has at one point the pilot light 43 supportedltherefrom.V This rim is preferably supported from three places by'bars44 secured to the under side thereof and supported by pipes 45 extendingdown to the floor. The aperture 40 has a plurality of channels 46 formedtherein for the following purpose:

through the channels 43 into the trough 42,

which has the discharge spout 47 t0 discharge the oil into a bucket48hung upon a lever 49 connected to the electric switch controllingv thecurrent to the motor, so that inthe event that it is operatingv -withoutthe oil burning, as soon as the bucket 48 Vis filled -t'o the desiredextent, the switchcombustion of the oil thus delivered, it is necessaryto place above the aperture- 46 an annular plate 50, which, as clearlyseen in Fig. 1,is placed a short distance from the cup 11, and has `itsedges extending out over the top lof the aperture v40. This plate 1sconveniently supported from the casting 41 by the three legs 51having'the recessed ends which fitover the to of thel casting. Theeffect of this plate 1s to divide the current of air sucked up through.the apernd that to'vinsure thelmost perfectl ture 40 and to deliver itwhere it operates most effectively in securinc perfect combustion oftheoil sprayed t ereby.

To secure' a. lproper level of the oil in the holder 26 at a l times, Iprovide the mechanism illustrated partially diagrammatically in Fig. 1,where 52 represents the oil- The valve 57,

vsupply tank, which has a pipe 53 leading l which'may be like anordinary air, valve for tires, inv the casing co-operates. with a valveseat 58, and is normally held closedfby the helically-coiled expandingspring 59 'co-operating therewith. The-valve stem 60 passes up to landis engaged by the plug 62 sliding through the snugly-'fitting bearing6l' in' the top of the valve casing, and has'its upper end engaged byIthe set screw 63 threaded through the bell-crank lever 64, which is ful-Qcrumed to the` valve casing, and has its oil brings the float 65 intooperation.L It.

will be understood thatfwhen there is a sufficient supply of oil in theholder, the spring 59 holds the valve closed, but when the oil gets low,the heightof the float 65 acting" against the spring opens the lvalve 58and allows the water to flowpast the valve and into the tank 52,displacing the oil above it and causing it to iiow into Ithe holder 26untilit reaches the desired level, when the float 65 is raised so that'the' spring 59 is free to act again and" close the valve.

While l have shown and described invention Aas embodied in the formwhich l at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, itwill be understood that it is capable of modifications and that I donotdesire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claimsMexcept as may be ne-l cessitated by .the state of the prior art.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is: l.. In anapparatus of the class described,

the combination with an electric motor havv ing a vertically disposedhollow armature.

shaft, `of a supp'ortfor the motor casing, connections between-thesupportA and the motor casing permitting the'latter to swing A to adjustitself automatically to the true axis of rotation of the armature, aliquid holder beneath the casing'into which lthe lower end ofthe'armature-shaft dips, acentrifugal atomizer on the upper end of theshaft, and means for maintaining` liquid in the holder.

2. In an 4apparatus of the class described, the combination with anelectric motor having a vertically disposed hollow armatureshaft, ofasupport for the motor casing, a liquid holder beneath the casing intowhich the lower end ofthe armature-shaft dips,

connections between the support and the mctor casing permitting thelatter to swing to adjust itself automatically to the true axis ofrotation of the armature, a ycentrifugal atomizer on the upper end ofthe shaft, and

means for maintainingliquid in the holder,-

the armature-shaft' having a small orifice in its lower end anda largerone in its upper end. 1

3. In a centrifugal atoinizer, the combination with a liquid holder'having a plurality of. spring-engaging members arranged in a j circleon the top thereof, of a motor with` its casing having a correspondingplurality of spring-engaging members, an atomizer carried by the top ofthe hollow armatureshaft, 'the lower end of whichprojects into thebasin, and helically-coiled expanding springs interposed between theopposed `pairs' of spring-engaging members.

4. In a centrifugal atomizer, the combination with a liquid holderhaving a plurality of spring-engaging members arranged 'in a .circle onthe top thereof, of a motor with its casing having a correspondingplurality of opposed spring-holding recesses, an atomizer vcarried bythetop of the hollow armature-shaft, the lower end of which projects intothe holder, helically-coiled expanding springs having their lower endsengaging the spring-engaging members on the holder and their upper endsextending intoI therecesses, and bearing plugs with lsemispherical upperends engaging the bottoms of the recesses and with reduced lower endssurrounded by the upper ends of the springs in the recesses.

5. ln an apparatus of the class described, the combination with avertically-disposed hollow shaft, of means for rotating the same, aliquid holder supplying liquid to the bottom of said shaft, an atomizingcup secured on'the top of the shaft with openings thereinto from theshaft, and a cover rotating withthe cup and provided on its innersurface with vanes inside of the cup, for the Lpurpose described. a

6. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with an electric motor hav- .ing a vertically-disposedhollow armature-k cup and .provided on-its inner surface with vanes, forthe purpose described.

7. ln an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with affire-potV having a truncated conical aperture opening into the bottomthereof, of a centrifugal atomizing cup projecting up through saidaperture and discharging its fuel tangentially above the bottom ofthepot, and an annular plate having three or more pins extending downwardfrom the under side thereof surrounding the atomizer between itsdelivery plane and the bottom of the pot, said pins being supported onthe top of ythe walls of the aperture. v A

8. ln an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a centrifugal atomizer'.

having'a hollow vertical shaft, of a li uid holderinto which it dips, atank for oil, a

' pipe connecting the top of the tank with the combination with acentrifugal atomizer having a hollow vertical shaft, of a liquid holderinto which it dips, a `tank for oil,

a pipe connecting the top of the tank with the bottom of the holder, aWater pipe connected with the source of water under pressure and openinginto the tank, a `valvevin said Water pipe, and connections to saidvalve operated by the level of the oil in the holder to open the valvewhen the oil supply therein gets too Alow and to close it when it getstoo high, said connections consisting of a spring tending to close thevalve, a float in the holder, and connections from the float to thevalve so that the weight of the float opposes the spring and opens thevalve.

10. In an apparatus of the class described,

.the combinationwith a centrifugal atomizer having ahollow verticalshaft, .of a liquid holder into which it dips, a tank for oil, a, pipeconnecting the top of the tank'with the bottom of the holder, awaterpipe connected with the source of water under pressure and opening intothev tank, a valve in said water pipe, and connections to said valveoperated by the level of the oil in the holder to open the valve whenthe 'oil supply therein g ts too low and to close it when it gets tooigh, said connections consisting of a spring tending to close the valve,a float inthe holder, and connections from the float to the valve sothat the Weight i of the float opposes the spring and opens to the floatand pivoted at the other end adjacent the valve casing, a plungerysliding through the top of the valve and engaging the valve stem, and[a set screwin the bell crank co-operating with the top of the plunger,substantially as and for the purposeN described.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with anelectric motor having a vertically disposed hollow armature shaft, of asupport for the motor casing, a liquid holder beneath the 'casing intowhich the lower end 'of the armature shaftdips, a centrifugal atomizeron the upper end of the shaft, and means for maintaining liquid in theholder, the armature shaft having a small orifice in the bottom of itslower end and a larger one in its upper end.

I2. In a liquid fuel burner, the combination with a liquid holder, of avertical hollow shaft extending intoI the holder having a small axiallyextending concentric orice in its bottom and a larger discharge area atits top, an atomizer element on the top of the shaft rotating therewith,bearings for the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft.

13. In aliquid fuel bu`rner,the combination with a liquid holder, of ahollow shaft extending downwardly into the holder having a relativelysmall axially-extending concentric orifce in its bottom and a largerdischarge area atits top, an atomizer element on the top of the shaftrotating therewith,

and .means for rotating the shaft.

In Witness whereof; I have hereunto set m hand and aixed my seal, this10th day o November, 1921..

SGAR C. SCHROEDER. p Witness:y

. yJOHN HOWARD MoELRoY;

